Rugby:There was no place for the current European player of the year, Sean O'Brien, on the shortlist for the world award when the IRB announced a selection dominated by New Zealanders this morning.
O’Brien, the driving force behind Leinster’s European Heineken Cup success, also garnered rave reviews during the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup, culminating in being named Player of Pool C.
However, after Ireland’s quarter-final exit at the hands of Wales, O’Brien failed to make the six-man shortlist for the IRB’s top individual award.
All Black trio Piri Weepu, Jerome Kaino and Ma'a Nonu made up half of the list of nominees and are joined by Australia's David Pocock and Will Genia.
The final nominee was France backrow Thierry Dusautoir, who will captain his country against the All Blacks in Sunday's World Cup final at Eden Park.
"This has been one of the closest years to date," said the head of selection panel John Eales, the former Australia captain. "In fact the result could be influenced significantly by the next two matches and that's what it should be like in a World Cup year."
Kaino has been his country's form loose forward this season with several standout performances in the World Cup so far. Nonu, who has been among the world's best backs for several years, has also been in impressive form but Weepu's nomination was something of a surprise.
The scrumhalf returned from a long-term injury in April and although he was included in the New Zealand World Cup squad, he only made the starting role his own during the tournament.
Weepu assumed the kicking duties after the loss of New Zealand's outhalf Dan Carter to injury, however, and was instrumental in their victories over Argentina and Australia in the quarter and semi-finals.
Pocock is nominated for the award for the second season in a row after losing out to fellow openside flanker Richie McCaw when the All Blacks captain won for a third time last year.
Genia was one of the driving forces behind Australia claiming the Tri-Nations title for the first time in a decade earlier this year. Australia face Wales in the third-place playoff at Eden Park on Friday and the winner of the award will be announced next Monday.
